Leptotyphlops is a genus of nonvenomous blind snakes, commonly known as slender blind snakes and threadsnakes, in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The genus is endemic to and found throughout Africa. Eleven species have been moved to the genus Trilepida, and other species have been moved to the genera Epacrophis, Epictia, Mitophis, Myriopholis, Namibiana, Rena, Siagonodon, Tetracheilostoma, and Tricheilostoma.
Description Most species of Leptotyphlops look much like shiny earthworms. They are generally black, grey, or blackish-brown and their scales give them a segmented appearance. Their common name comes from the fact that their eyes are greatly reduced almost to the point of uselessness, and hidden behind a protective head scale. The species which are called thread snakes are so named because of their very narrow, long bodies.
Behavior All blind snakes including those of the genus Leptotyphlops are burrowing snakes, spending most of their time deep in loose soil, typically only emerging when it rains and they get flooded out.
Diet The primary diet of Leptotyphlops is ant and termite larvae.
Species Common nameScientific nameTaxon authorHabitat & RangeEthiopian worm snakeLeptotyphlops aethiopicusBroadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Forest, grassland Range: Ethiopia, KenyaCape thread snakeLeptotyphlops conjunctus(Jan, 1861)Habitat: Grassland Range: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province)Distant's thread snakeLeptotyphlops distanti(Boulenger, 1892)Habitat: Savanna, grassland Range: Mozambique, South Africa (Limpopo Province, North-West Province, Mpumalanga, Gauteng)Emin Pasha's worm snakeLeptotyphlops emini(Boulenger, 1890)Habitat: Savanna, shrubland Range: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, ZambiaHowell's worm snakeLeptotyphlops howelli Broadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Forest, savanna Range: Kenya, United Republic of TanzaniaIncognito thread snakeLeptotyphlops incognitusBroadley & Watson, 1976Habitat: Savanna, grassland Range: Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga), Zambia, ZimbabweJacobsen's thread snakeLeptotyphlops jacobseni Broadley & S. Broadley, 1999Habitat: Grassland Range: South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga)Shaba thread snakeLeptotyphlops kafubi (Boulenger, 1919)Habitat: Savanna, artificial / terrestrial Range: Angola, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, ZambiaMount Kenya worm snakeLeptotyphlops keniensisBroadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Shrubland Range: Kenya, United Republic of TanzaniaUvira worm snakeLeptotyphlops latirostris(Sternfeld, 1912)Habitat: Savanna Range: Burundi, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Republic of TanzaniaGoggle-eyed worm snakeLeptotyphlops macropsBroadley & Wallach, 1996Habitat: Forest, savanna, artificial / terrestrial Range: Kenya, United Republic of TanzaniaMbanja worm snakeLeptotyphlops mbanjensisBroadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Artificial / terrestrial Range: United Republic of TanzaniaMerker's thread snakeLeptotyphlops merkeri (F. Werner, 1909)Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, artificial / terrestrial, introduced vegetation Range: Kenya, United Republic of TanzaniaBlack thread snakeLeptotyphlops nigricansT(Schlegel, 1839)Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland Range: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape)Black-tip worm snakeLeptotyphlops nigroterminusBroadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Savanna, shrubland Range: Kenya, United Republic of TanzaniaPemba worm snake Leptotyphlops pembaeLoveridge, 1941Habitat: Grassland, artificial / terrestrial Range: Pemba Island, TanzaniaPitman's thread snakeLeptotyphlops pitmani Broadley & Wallach, 2007Habitat: Savanna Range: Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, UgandaN/ALeptotyphlops pungwensisBroadley & Wallach, 1997Range: MozambiquePeter's thread snakeLeptotyphlops scutifrons(W. Peters, 1854)Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland Range: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, ZimbabweForest thread snakeLeptotyphlops sylvicolusBroadley & Wallach, 1997Habitat: Forest, grassland Range: South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province)Tello's thread snakeLeptotyphlops telloiBroadley & Watson, 1976Habitat: Savanna Range: Eswatini, Mozambique T) Type species.
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